This Pak fan came to India, observed and then struck on 26/11

The statement by senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy that when a Pakistan cricket team comes to India then ISI agents too visit is an interesting one and there has been one major instance in the past to support that view.

When a Pakistan cricket team visits India, there is permission granted to several others who travel to India as fans to cheer their national team. However in the year 2005 one dangerous fan slipped into India with the rest and what he did was there for everyone to see on that horrific night of 26/11.

We are referring to the ISI's man, Sajid Mir an accused in the 26/11 case who also was the handler for David Headley. He had blended with the rest of the cricket fans and visited India, investigations have shown.

When Mir came as a cricket fan

Mir is one of the most intelligent and dangerous members of the ISI/Lashkar-e-Tayiba. He was known as an international terrorist due to the reach he had. Till date Pakistan denies the existence of this man when the entire world knows who he is.

He was told by the ISI to work with the Lashkar starting 2005. This was specifically instructed to him as he was to aid the Lashkar with the 26/11 attack and also the Karachi Project which was aimed at widespread terror attacks in India. Following his joining the Lashkar specifically for these projects he decided to travel to India.

He felt that the best way to travel to India was when there was a game of cricket on between the two countries. The norms are a bit relaxed as India allows Pakistan cricket fans to visit India and cheer their national team.

Reports suggest that Mir was not alone. That year at least 12 fans went missing. India managed to nab one of them who was found with a fake identity and booked him for espionage.

The rest were never apprehended and that list includes Mir as well. Mir is said to have stayed in India for 15 days. It is clear that he was not watching cricket all the time. He went about visiting various places which investigators suspect was part of a reconnaissance mission.

As per ProPublic.com which broke this story, he crossed the border into India at its only land port of entry with Pakistan, blending with Pakistani cricket fans flocking to see their national team play in India.

Till date Indian investigators do not have a clear idea as to where Mir had travelled in India. However after his visit to several places, he got in touch with David Headley and ordered him to conduct a thorough reconnaissance mission in Mumbai. He surveyed spots at Mumbai, Pune and even Delhi before handing over all the details to Mir.